This fencing system supposedly contains both cats and dogs without the use of electric shock or any other form of negative conditioning. We’ve been wanting to give Lucy more room to run around for awhile now, and if the cats could safely get a little fresh air and exercise that would be a real bonus. Has anyone else heard of this? purrfectfence.com

When we lived in Alaska, I had a rabbit fur hat (yeah, I felt guilty, but it was so soft and warm…) I had to keep it away from Taz or else he would bathe it within an inch of its life. Well, now Taz finally has his own fur cuddle toy.

You can’t see it too well, but note Taz’s spiffy new collar.

Taz and Suzie are snoozing companionably on the bed. Ah, but this peaceful situation can’t last… here comes Mickie.

A skirmish ensues.

Suzie observes with some alarm, or maybe complete boredom, I dunno. Exit Suzie, stage left.

Mickie manages to break Taz’s collar. After he leaves, she enjoys her prize.

Taz and Mickie keeping me company on the sofa.

To anyone who hasn’t given up on me, I offer profuse apologies and gratitude. Back in January I got that extremely persistent upper respiratory whatever that was going around, and I really wasn’t 100% again till mid-March, at which time I was so far behind on everything that catblogging took a backseat—or may have even been consigned to riding around in the trunk. But at least this means I have a few goodies saved up, such as this picture of Taz in the cat tree.

Chris has been fighting what now appears to be a succession of bugs for the last several weeks, and last night she—who never gets fevers—had a pretty significant fever. She’s going to the doctor this afternoon.

“Cats are autocrats of naked self-interest. They are both amoral and immoral, consciously breaking rules. Their “evil” look at such times is no human projection: the cat may be the only animal who savors the perverse or reflects upon it.“

Camille Paglia

You would not believe how little we actually feed this cat. One-half cup of Iams weight control kibble per day, and that’s it. According to the bag he should be getting twice that much, but I’m afraid to give it to him given his obvious tendency to gain weight. We try very hard to keep him away from the others’ dishes, too.

By the way, the catnip carrot and other excellent and durable toys are available from Nature Of The Pet.